Red Stick Mom

Misty and her husband of 7 years live in Gonzales, LA with their 2  energetic and amazing children, Jax-7 and Elliot-4. She is native to Alexandria, LA and moved to the Baton Rouge area in 2005, where she now works for a large electrical contracting group. Her son Jax was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at 8 days old and Misty has made it her mission to fund raise and educate as many people as she can about CF. Misty and her family love to find local (and non-local) adventures on the weekends and playing board games together. She is an avid reader, make-up buyer, and coffee-drinker. She can be found on the sofa binge watching The Office on Netflix and on Instagram at @MISTYROUSSA.

Sarah Joy Hays is a native of Louisiana and graduate of LSU! She returned to Baton Rouge last year after 6 years living and working in DC. She is a proud momma to an enthusiastic, red-haired toddler and is navigating all of this as a solo parent; fully relying on group texts with other moms, coffee, and Jesus. Sarah Joy, or SJ, has devoted much of her abundant spare time to the Woman’s New Life Center, Forum 35’s Uncorked, South Baton Rouge Presbyterian Church, and her newly founded Foundation that will focus on emergency disaster response. She claims to love to read, journal, and cook; but only manages one of the three out of daily necessity. SJ dreams of having a Target collaboration based on coffee mugs and dry shampoo one day… till then she will enjoy watching HGTV while planning conferences from her living room!

Megan is “Mommy! Mom! Mom-Mommy!” to four: Carson (9), Atticus (7), Evangeline (4), and Bo (8 months). She is from Port Allen and went to high school and college in Baton Rouge, getting her Bachelor’s Degree in English with a concentration in Secondary Education from LSU. Megan then moved to the ‘burbs in Zachary. She and her husband of 9 years, Ryan, are teachers, Ryan at Zachary High School and Megan at West Feliciana High School in St. Francisville, where she is also the Instructional Specialist. Megan is Nationally Board Certified in English Language Arts and has a Master's in Educational Leadership. She adores her job, as it gives her awesome opportunities: working with teenagers, gaining perspective on parenting them, and getting to pretend she’s a SAHM over the summer. When she’s not learning piano or reading, Megan can be found on the couch, talking to episodes of “Real Housewives of New York.”

Strong willed and determined since a little girl, this mom of three, wife, worship leader, writer, and career woman, believes dreams come true if you do the work. Nikyla hails from St. Louis, MO and is a graduate of LSU and Southern University. She is a certified teacher and currently teaches at Louisiana Connections Academy. Her time out of the office is filled with family, friends and faith. She adores her three children Kyre, K’mya, and Kris and has been married to her childhood sweet heart Remiah Trask for fourteen years. Nikyla is currently a worship leader at Anchor Chapel in Baton Rouge.She is the founder of the mental health campaign entitled Be Brave. Writing has become a form of therapy for her, and the stories she shares are always honest, heartfelt, and transparent. Read more of Nikyla’s Brave Blogs here.

Both of her parents grew up in the Red Stick, but Camille was born and raised in Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating from the University of Tennessee with a BA in Communication Studies, she moved to Baton Rouge and welcomed her adorable son Caleb (7) less than a year later. She navigated life being a divorced mom until 2015 when she married her incredibly supportive husband Chris in San Francisco. They welcomed baby Christian in the summer of 2017. Truly a “Jane of all Trades,” she has worked in non-profit, local news, retail management, and owned a successful childcare facility. All roads led her to be an elementary school teacher which she believes is her calling. Camille enjoys “family fun days” where they explore BR, CrossFit, baking, and drinking all the coffee. She lives with her family in Ascension Parish with their chubby puggle Chloe.

Mandy grew up in Baton Rouge and graduated from LSU with a degree in Anthropology. In an attempt to figure out what do with an Anthropology degree, she moved to DC and received a masters degree in Forensic Science at George Washington University. Over the next seven years, Mandy moved to Austin, built a successful jewelry design business, imported her now husband from Baton Rouge, and made the decision to move back to Baton Rouge to start a family. Since then, she has worked for a jewelry designer, a CPA, and a financial advisor. In between, she was a stay at home mom to three feisty, but sweet daughters, two of which are twins. In the meantime, she is pouring her creativity into her writing which can be described as honest, funny and little bit snarky, just like Mandy. You can check out more of her musings at Tantrums and Twirls.

Stephanie grew up with her family in Kirkwood, Missouri. She earned a degree in Elementary and Early Childhood Education from Furman University in Greenville, South Carolina, and then a Montessori degree in Atlanta, Georgia.  She also lived in Oklahoma for several years, and now calls Baton Rouge home. She taught PreK and Elementary school part time, full time, and had some stay-at home mom time when her babies were little. Currently she teaches Kindergarten at The Runnels School and loves it. In her free time, she enjoys going to Barre class, cooking, traveling, singing, girls' nights, trips to the beach, and spending time with friends and family. She and her husband have two adventurous, adorable boys, ages five and eleven, who keep life exciting and hilarious.

Sarah is a self-proclaimed foodie who has been married to her husband Justin for ten years. Sarah and Justin have two beautiful children, Lillian and Judah. Sarah stayed close to home and got her degree in English Education from Southeastern Louisiana University. She can honestly say she is never bored thanks to one of the most fun jobs ever - teaching 11th grade American Literature. She enjoys traveling, reading, finding new recipes on Pinterest, and spending quality time with her family.

After leaving Cajun Country, travelling through the woods and over the Basin Bridge, Ashley became an official Baton Rougian in 2005. At LSU, she pursued a teaching degree, always knowing her passion was young children, and eventually attended graduate school studying child development and families. She married her high school sweetheart in 2012 and they still feel like two crazy kids in love… except way more tired. Ashley is a mother to two handsome, busy boys, ages three and one, who keep her love tank filled and her energy level below zero. After working as a full-time kindergarten teacher for six years, she recently began teaching part- time in order to savor more moments with her family. Ashley runs off of a lot of prayers and a considerable amount of Diet Coke. She loves family outings, dates with her husband (especially when it involves uninterrupted conversations and good food), hosting, being creative, all things LSU, and taking entirely too many pictures of her children.

Victoria and her husband Jeff have two wonderful boys, James (3) and Asher (1). Now, she’s proud to call Baton Rouge home, and has experience connecting with other moms through the local ICAN (International Cesarean Awareness) and Mothers of Preschoolers groups. She’s convinced that some of the best people in the world live in Baton Rouge, and loves raising her boys here. She loves to bake, especially vegan and paleo recipes! She’s a Chick Fil-a addict, and a lover of books and gardens!

Whitney is a born and raised Louisianian. Her passions lie in playground sports, keeping a messy home (much to the dismay of the husband), drinking lots of caffeine, dancing in the kitchen, getting (well trying to get) her booty in shape, and making people smile. She devotes her time to three things that fall very close to her heart: her little family, her weenie pup, and the urge to never stop creating. She married to a gentlemen that is her opposite. He though a pilot, is firmly grounded while she spends most of her time with her head in the clouds. She is a step-mom and mom of two girls, and finds motherhood is a bizarre dichotomy of grace and chaos. As a family they make life work with amazingly creative grilled cheese sandwiches, streamers, Steen's Syrup, and maybe a bubble bath. Each day she chases paper rainbows and lives the southern narrative.

Angelle Terrell is a working mom and mother of two boys. She loves LSU football, dive bars, taking pictures of families, and lively discussions about US History. Born and raised a Ragin Cajun in Lafayette, Angelle moved to Baton Rouge in 2010 to pursue her career in education. After marrying her husband in 2014, she officially called the Red Stick home. Angelle has been a Social Studies teacher at St. Joseph’s Academy for nine years and operates a part-time boutique photography business — Angelle James Photography.

Ray is a Baton Rouge, LA native. She resides in the Red Stick with her loving husband, Telvin, of three years. They added to their tribe in 2018 with a bubbly daughter, Aeris. Ray attended Louisiana State University, where she received a Bachelor's Degree in English with a concentration in Creative Writing. She has taught middle school ELA in EBR public and charter schools for the past three years. She is currently working on her writing career and hopes to publish her first book by 2020. She loves spending time with her family. Being able to write about the people she loves the most, and share experiences with fellow mothers is a dream come true. Ray loves reading novels, traveling, amusement parks, and restaurant hopping.

Hi, my name is D’Andra Odom. My husband, Brandon, and I have two children: Josiah and Corrinne. Some of our favorite past times as family include: visiting with family and friends near and far, cooking as a family, traveling, and a good day of outdoors in the yard. My husband and I own also own a catering company, Odom’s Kitchen. Additionally, I am an active member of: Louisiana Community and Translational Sciences Community Advisory Board at the Pennington Biomedical Research Center, The Environment and Health Council of Louisiana, as well as, The National Coalition of 100 Black Women-Metro Baton Rouge. When I am not blogging (but-mom.org), spending time with family and friends, and catering you will find me trying to create a lifestyle change for the dryer that thrives on a diet of socks. I am eager to contribute to RSM and excited to have a new FRamily.

Ana is originally from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Out of passion for learning, she started traveling to all sorts of different places. Fifteen countries later, she has now settled in Baton Rouge and works for a local architecture firm. Graduate school at LSU presented her not only with tools to advance in architecture but also with a deeper understanding of the culture and geography of Louisiana. It is a fascinating state, and Baton Rouge, as its capital, does not disappoint. Ana is currently starting her journey to a country she has never been to before: motherhood (except if you count a dog, a cat, and a fish). You can find her coming up with a myriad of house projects, trying new restaurants in town, park-hopping with her beagle, or enjoying a good movie with her husband.

Carrie is a Baton Rouge native. She is married to her favorite adventuring partner, Joseph, who she met in 2012. Together, they have two strong-willed and fun-loving daughters. She was a stay at home mom for 3 years before going to work part time as a preschool teacher’s assistant. Carrie has an associates in Environmental Science and is passionate about recycling and up-cycling. When she has the time, she enjoys reading mystery and thriller books, crafting with the kids, sewing and painting once they are in bed, and playing games. She loves going on dates with her husband, especially when they are new adventures.

Hi! I am Heather Westbrook and I have been having a love affair with the written word since before I could talk. Growing up as a young girl, I had three big dreams: to be a superhero, to become a mother, and to write for others.

Flash forward to present day and I am Mom to an amazing trio of sons who look to me for strength, guidance and protection (and they also know I keep a box of costumes in the closet for emergency conventions, birthday parties and embarrassing them in the carpool line). I think that’s pretty super!

Fear is my arch-nemesis and I finally defeated him whenever I applied to become a contributor to Red Stick Moms. I am ecstatic to be a part of this League of Extraordinary Mothers, writing for our readers, and living out all three of my heart’s most important aspirations.

Nicole is a first time mother to her one-year old daughter Mila, a wife to her husband Raymond (‘Ray’) and a doggy mother to her fur-baby Mr. Big (who is all of 17 pounds). She was born and raised in Baton Rouge, LA and now resides in Prairieville with her family. She graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University with a Bachelors in General Business – Business Technology with a minor in Dance. She then went straight into graduate school where she soon after attained her Masters in Business Administration from Southern University and A&M College. Nicole danced for twelve years all around the Baton Rouge area with different dance studios and companies before deciding to marry her loving husband and eventually start her family. She enjoys raising her daughter around family who are close by and looks forward to growing her family soon. If you catch her on a day where she is not wearing anything leopard print or gold you should know that something is wrong.

Breana, native of Thibodaux, recently moved to Baton Rouge with her husband Ryan, their son Thomas (2015), and their three sweet pups. She is completing her bachelor’s degree this year through the Nicholls State University Online Program while working full-time for Professional Emergency Medicine Management (PEMM) at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center and for Professional Emergency Physician Associates (PEPA) at Our Lady of the Lake. When she is not working, traveling or attending events, she can be found singing in Weddings throughout Louisiana. Her favorite pastimes are watching Thomas pretend that he is the LSU Tiger Band, planning get-togethers with friends, and discovering the best brunch spots around town.

  Theresa Langlois has been in the business of helping people make memories for 13 years.  After college she started her career as a wedding planner and event coordinator. She then took on the role of Catering Director for Bonanno's Fine Catering and then 225 Events. After 10 years and hundreds of weddings she has moved her focus to non- profit fundraising.  In 2017 Theresa was awarded the Next Generation award honoring outstanding people under 30 making an impact in the industry.

Theresa is the Fund Development Director for BREADA “Red Stick Farmers Market” and owner of a women's online clothing store P3 Boutique.  Theresa also sits on local boards in her community, such as the St. John/ St. Theresa Gala auction committee, and she is a contributing writer to “Red Stick Mom.” She is married to Jeremy Langlois a local Baton Rouge chef and they have two little girls Piper and Parker.

Kirsten Beary is married to her husband Thomas Beary, who together parent Jaxon, Adelaide, and Declan. Kirsten is a Lafayette native  who is just recently become a Red Stick mom and is loving the transition. She is a SAHM to her rambunctious bunch so you’ll often find her surrounded by dirt, diapers, and dishes. On the rare occasion she has spare time you’ll find her luxuriously roaming the aisles of Hobby Lobby, crafting, and decorating. Top five things she loves are her family, online shopping, coffee/wine (depends on time of day), and Rae Dunn. Kirsten and her husband started a family very early on in life but she says it was her calling- what she was always meant to do! The motto that she lives by is grace > guilt because sometimes we all need a little reminder to go easy on ourselves.

Baton Rouge born and raised, stay-at-home mom of two–Justin (4) and Bennett (1). Jolie spends her days hauling them to playgrounds, speech therapy, parks, and anything else to wear them out by bedtime. With any extra free time, Jolie loves spending time with her hubs, catching up with the girls, and watching serial killer documentaries.

Monique is a single mother to her 2 year old daughter Maisyn. She was born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She is a graduate from St. Joseph’s Academy then attended and graduated from Southeastern Louisiana University where she received her Bachelor’s degree in Communication. She also has a Master of Arts in Education/Adult Education and Training. Monique is employed at H&E Equipment Services as an Instructional Designer. She has been coaching cheerleading for over 10 years and handles communication for Louisiana Cheer Force. Monique enjoys shopping, spending time with her daughter and doing Yoglates which is all talked about on her blog, www.MamaMeaux.com.